How to Solo a Pilot Who is Already a Pilot?

[@kthomas_808]

Todd love the content this makes so much sense. An instructor told me that you would need 61.31 d(2) to take my multi checkride and he was shocked the DPE didn’t need it when I told him. Guess he miss understood, and I was confused on how I took that checkride. This clears up this for me getting ready for my CFI ride on 11/8. Keep making these videos love learning more things 🤙🏼

[@ToddShellnuttCPC]

Edit you comment to read 61.31(d)(2)

[@kthomas_808]

@@ToddShellnuttCPC thank you I just corrected that 🤙🏼

[@NorthwestAeronaut]

Great video Todd! Thanks for covering this. Definitely not something that typically gets covered in initial CFI training!

[@rachelm1977]

Love your videos Todd! Thanks for all your help!

[@djdalite]

awesome video Todd, thank you

[@twigcheeseball]

Hey Todd, I always love the content. I have a regulation question for you, as I'd like to see what you think. I am a CFI/CFII/MEI (I wonder from what school) and I'd like to hear your opinion on WHY an MEI can give a flight review in an MEL that they don't have 5 hours of PIC, but cannot instruct in it. I hope we come to the same answer, and I'm looking forward to seeing yours!

[@prestonarnold5392]

My guess would be that it's because the CFI is not giving instruction for a rating. The pilot the CFI would be flying with would have to be rated for the category and class. This is my educated guess without looking up any regs.

[@ToddShellnuttCPC]

So the main reason is usually due to the CFI not acting as PIC for the flight. This would only apply if the pilot receiving the flight review was within their 24 month window. Outside of that, then the CFI would need to qualified to act as PIC. If you look at 3-2.e of AC 61-98, and also at 61.195(b) it only states that the CFI need to rated in the category, class, and type. The additional training of 61.31 is only required if the CFI plans on ACTING as the PIC. Hope this helps.

[@twigcheeseball]

@@ToddShellnuttCPC I'm not super sure this response addresses my question to you, my question was about why an MEI can give a flight review in a model of MEL airplane that they don't have 5 hours of PIC time in, as per 61.195 (f). I was taught at CFI school that an MEI can give a flight review but not instruction in said airplane, and I came up with my own understanding, and hope to see if you have the same conclusion. The issue comes from if the flight review ends up being unsatisfactory, it is logged as dual received, which seems like it contradicts 61.195 (f) if the MEI doesn't have those 5 hours of PIC.

[@ToddShellnuttCPC]

@@twigcheeseball Because a Flight Review is not training for a certificate or a rating. Per 61.195(f)

[@oguzhankof9926]

Hi Todd. I failed to understand why and how 61.39 endorsement allows applicant to act as PIC in checkride? Can you kindly elaborate?

[@mikemorell1057]

Question Todd!!! So If I give someone a 61.31(d)(2) endorsement, it says it allows them to act as PIC of an aircraft in solo ops. Scenario: Say I am training a commercial rotorcraft pilot to get their commercial airplane. I am rated in single engine land of the plane and I give them the 61.31(d)(2) endorsement. Does this mean even when I am conducting training with them, they can ACT as PIC or is it only when they are solo? Can they log PIC when I am conducting training with them once they have the 61.31(d)(2) endorsement?

[@ToddShellnuttCPC]

So sorry for the delay - 61.31(d)(2) is specific to solo, as stated in the line of the reg. 61.51 states that the person can not log PIC if they are not rated, or if they are not the sole occupant of the aircraft.

[@tomasicenogle]

Brings up a point, can you put limitations on any endorsement?

[@ToddShellnuttCPC]

Yes. You can add a limitation to any endorsement.

[@AMZADUR100]

Hey Tod, I’f I’m a private rotorcraft pilot, would I be able to go get a commercial airplane category rating without getting a private pilot airplane first?

[@ToddShellnuttCPC]

Of course - you would just need to conduct the training as you normally would for the commercial airplane cert and meet all of the time requirements in 61.129.

[@nimbapilot6925]

Great video sir. Endorsement is my weak point. Thanks for sharing this video. My question. If the person is adding a rating ( single engine land to multi engine land)... do I need to give them A72? Thanks

[@ToddShellnuttCPC]

Nope - only if they will be soloing the aircraft. They do not need it for the practical test.

[@nimbapilot6925]

@@ToddShellnuttCPC thank you

[@alessio272]

This was a question I received on my CFI checkride: An ATP rotorcraft pilot who has 3000 hrs TT, 300 hours in a glider, wants to pursue his Commercial SEL airplane, what is the aeronautical experience requirements in a SEL he must have to be eligible for his COMSEL practical test? My answer was 50 hours and examiner said that was incorrect.

[@alessio272]

I was in my CFI academy and two answers were given, 50 and 70 hours respectively. Those were debated heavily in class.

[@cfidad7005]

I know some flight schools have rotor transition programs for airlines that require the student to get multi-engine time “performing duties as PIC”, sometimes using the acronym “PDPIC”. Do we use 61.31d(2) in this instance? ….even though an instructor is typically riding along with them because there’s no way an insurance company would ever endorse this kind of operation. Thoughts? Thank you for the content.

[@ToddShellnuttCPC]

So this technique is in accordance with 61.129(a)(4), or (b)(4) for multiengine. In this instance, the rotor transition pilot is not solo, and so the 61.31(d)(2) would not apply.